Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air will be the Official Airlines of the Portland Rose Festival in a three-year sponsorship deal that kicks off the airlines' expanded air service from Portland International Airport.

Attended by more than 2 million people, the festival was named Best Festival in the World by the International Festival and Events Association in 2007. Among the festival's most popular events is the KeyBank Grand Floral Parade, one of the nation's top two all-floral parades.

"With Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air's deep roots and dedication to service in the Portland area, we share a unique bond with the Rose Festival and understand how it is cherished by the community and our own 2,500 Portland-based employees," said Steve Jarvis, Alaska's vice president of marketing, sales and customer experience.

Together Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air offer more nonstop flights, more daily flights and more California service from Portland International Airport than any other carrier. Horizon's maintenance and operations centers also are based in Portland.

"Alaska Airlines was one of the Portland Rose Festival's very first sponsors in the 1980s, and we are thrilled to partner again with these valued Northwest-based companies with a strong commitment to Portland," said Jeff Curtis, executive director of the Portland Rose Festival Foundation. "This kind of corporate support is essential to keeping Portland's Official Festival strong and vibrant."